Archaic influences - 3b, part 3 (Yemini Arabic, Old Arabic and Punic)

[@mysotiras21]

Thanks. I have long been curious as to whether the Punic language had any effect on the languages that superseded it.

[@lydiaanello6208]

Thank you so much for your brilliant service 💓

[@TheLinguist601]

To be clear if the name Malta derives from Punic mlṭ which lit. means 'refuge' (c.f. Hebrew מלט) and figuratively 'harbor', it was adopted into Arabic through Greek and Latin, and then into Maltese. I think there is a strong case for indirect lexical influence of Punic on Maltese, via both Punic -> Tamazight -> Aramaic/Arabic -> Maltese and Punic -> Greek (-> Latin) -> Arabic. And possibly even Punic -> Hebrew/Aramaic -> Andalusian Arabic (-> Sicilian Arabic) -> Maltese. Since Hebrew is attested on the Iberian Peninsula from at least the 4th century AD, and Punic may have survived there up to that same century.

[@Basaljet]

Mel I remember you mentioning the ancient church of John the Baptist, now the Umayyad mosque, the head of John the Baptist in Damascus and the introduction of “behold the lamb of god…” being introduced to the liturgy of the mass in the 7th century now I cannot find it. Can you remind me?

[@shdwbnndbyyt]

The Tribe of Dan was on the sea coast until most of the tribe moved north and conquered the area which they later called Dan... But Dan per the biblical scriptures was associated with ships, and per certain Hebrew traditions, settled westward... becoming the Danites of Greece (Sparta if I remember correctly) and other lands... possibly Malta also. That is where the older Hebrew "Rosh" came through as "Ros". Beit is also an ancient Hebrew word for house... Beitlehem (Bethlehem) was "house of bread".

[@mysotiras21]

Good points all.

[@TheLinguist601]

The word Donkey in Maltese is interesting In Arabic حمار ḥimār, Hebrew has it as חמור ḥamor. And Syriac ܚܡܪܐ ḥmarā and indeed some dialects of Neo-Assyrian Aramaic have it as ḥmorо̄. The Maltese ħmar / ħmor cannot be a reflection of Punic, since neo-Punic dropped the ḥ. But both forms of the Maltese rendition seem to be closest to Aramaic.

[@mysotiras21]

Great point.

[@TheLinguist601]

Both "beit" and "dur" are attested in Ugaritic, and Akkadian. The root 'bt' means house, residence, and home. When said of a king it is a palace, or of a god it means either palace or temple. It can mean storehouse, when referring to grain for example. The root 'dr' has to do with family as in a circle of family (and possibly associates), both in time and space. And a dwelling encircled by a wall, and by extension fortress. With these connotations it's obvious why the term "house of Islam" uses this root instead of beit.

[@mysotiras21]

Love your knowledge! Thanks for sharing.

[@hagalhagal9989]

I love languages released a video comparing Amharic with Chaldean neo-Aramaic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIvSfZKXi8lkZ9k

[@asifbrettishmaelmakki9]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoXFk4Owf9GJaKMsi=r_tjtFyMqw6AAZ-u That's about Arabic and Hebrew language.The link may contain something useful.I ain't sure tho.

[@letsmapdialects5248]

This is a great video. Thank you for sharing.